BUSINESS

A season to take a break

Wilmington's trophy guy is retiring

Ben Steelman StarNews Staff
Tim Smith, owner of 4 Seasons Trophy Shop, is retiring after 45 years. [BEN STEELMAN/STARNEWS]

WILMINGTON -- Tim Smith thought he was going to be a full-time photographer.

"But you kind of get caught up in your livelihood," he said.

That livelihood, starting in 1974, was the trophy shop he started at 221 S. Kerr Ave.

Now, 45 years later, Smith says he's retiring. On Friday afternoon, 4 Seasons Trophy Shop will close for good.

"I think it's time to take a break," Smith said.

A community standby, 4 Seasons has provided trophies, awards and plaques to sports clubs, businesses and churches throughout the area. Customers have included the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW), the New Hanover County schools, the YMCA, General Electric, New Hanover Regional Medical Center and the StarNews.

The walls are lined with gilded statuettes of ball players and ballerinas, as well as the familiar loving cups.

Smith and his crew also provided engraving and laser etching services for glass, wood and other surfaces and even cut new keys.

Smith said he grew used to the occasional odd request. Once, he was asked to mount a dried, shellacked piece of, er, cow patty on a plaque. The meadow muffin was a gift from one brother-in-law to another; the two had an ongoing competition to come up with the worst possible Christmas present.

Another time, Smith mounted a severed leg -- an artificial one, from a locally produced horror movie -- on a plaque. No problem.

Smith did keep up with his photography over the years and even taught courses through Cape Fear Community College (CFCC). A major sideline at 4 Seaons is Smith's line of matted photo images, in color and black and white, chiefly of landscapes. Many were taken on his trips through the American West.

Smith's photos have also appeared in area magazines.

Reporter Ben Steelman can be reached at 910-343-2208 or Ben.Steelman@StarNewsOnline.com.